Annunciator system



June l0, 1952 H. E. sr-:ATON

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June 10, 1952 H. E. sEAToN ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM mVENmR. Harold E 566250@June l0, 1952 H. E. sEAToN ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledFeb. 23, 1950 Har BY Patented June 10, 1952 ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM Harold E.Seaton, Shelby, Ohio, assigner to The Autocall Company, Shelby, Dhio, acorporation of Ohio Application February 23, 1950, Serial No. 145,812 14claims. (o1. 177-311) The present invention relates to annunciatorsystems for supervisory situations and the like wherein the annunicatorapparatus gives audible and visual signal indications that a. troublecondition has arisen in connection with certain supervised apparatus. orthat there has been a change in a certain supervised condition orconditions. Such supervised conditions may be typically represented bypressure conditions, temperature conditions, liquid level variations. orinnumerable other conditions which must be supervised for giving a quickand reliable signal indication of a change of condition.

Among the objects of the present invention are: to provide a simple.reliable and economical annunicator system for giving audible and visualsignal indications in response to the operation of supervisory ortrouble contacts which are actuated by the apparatus or condition beingsupervised; to provide an improved relay and circuit arrangement in suchannunicator system whereby the operation of the supervisory or troublecontacts first causes the sounding of an audible alarm on a relativelyloud signal device and the bright lighting of certain designation lamps;to provide an improved relay and circuit arrangement in the annunciatorsystem whereby the subsequent manual operation of a commonacknowledgement push-button switch causes the loud audible alarm tosilence and the bright designation lamps to dim; to provide an improvedrelay and circuit arrangement in the system whereby the restoration ofthe supervisory or trouble contacts back to normal condition causes thedimmed designation lamps to go out, causes a pilot lamp to light, andcauses an audible restore signal, different from the loud, audible alarmsignal, to sound; and to provide an improved relay and circuitarrangement whereby the manual operation of a reset push-button switchcauses the pilot lamp to go out and silences the audible restore signal,such re-setting operation restoring the system to normal.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detail description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings illustrating one preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 and 1a are coextensive portions of a circuit diagram embodyingthe invention;

Figure 2 is a list of legends applicable to the relays, contacts andswitches of Figures l-la;

Figure 3 is a physical diagram showing the 2 operating relation and theelectrical connections between the winding and contacts of each lamprelay;

Figure 4 is a similar diagram of each lamp acknowledgement relay;

Figure 5 is a similar diagram of each re-set relay and each test relay;

Figure 6 is a similar diagram of each re-set auxiliary relay;

Figure 7 is a similar diagram of each supplementary re-set auxiliaryrelay; and

Figure 8 is a chart showing the steps occurring in the basic operationand in the circuit operation.

Referring first to Figures 1 and la, all parts of the annunciator systemare shown as being fed from an electrical supply line I 4-I5, and forsimplicity of illustration and facility of understanding all of theseparts are shown in an across-the-line relation between conductorsIll-45, but it will be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. The supply line Ill-l5 can be either alternating current ordirect current oi' suitable potential. My improved system is capable ofhandling a plurality of trouble conditions, and accordingly I haveillustrated three sets of supervisory or trouble contacts designatedrespectively TCI, TCZ and TG3. In a typical supervisory system, thesecontacts might, for example, supervise pressure. temperature, liquidlevel, etc. The rectangles designated SAI, SA2 and SAS diagrammaticallyrepresent supervised apparatus operatively connected to actuate thesethree sets of supervisory or trouble contacts. One terminal of each setof trouble contacts has connection with a bus I6 which. in turn, isconnected with line conductor I4 through break contacts 3, 4 of a testrelay TS2. The other terminal of each set of trouble contacts hasconnection through a. separate conductor I8 with the other side l5 ofthe supply line. Arranged to respond to the three sets of troublecontacts TCI, TC! and TG3 are three individual lamp relays LI, L2 andL3, each of which have the operating relation and electrical connectionsshown in Figure 3. The conductor IB associated with each set of troublecontacts extends in series through the terminals and make contacts il, 8and thence through the normally energized winding I9 of its respectivelamp relay for connection with the other supply line conductor l5.Associated with each lamp relay LI, L2, L3, etc. is a lampacknowledgement relay LAI, LA2, LAB, etc., the operating relation andelectrical connections of which are shown 3 in Figure 4. The makecontacts 3, 4 of the associated lamp acknowledgement relay LAI. LA2,etc. are connected in shunting relation across the make contacts 9, 8 ofthe lamp relays LI, L2, etc.

Referring now to the manner in which the lamp acknowledgement relaysLAI, LA2, LA3, etc. are energized, these all have multiple connection toan acknowledgement bus 2| which is adapted to be connected With supplyline conductor I4 through an acknowledgement switch 2U and through thecontacts of certain test relays and reset relays in parallel therewith,all of which will be later described. It will be understood that thereis an individual lamp acknowledgement relay LAI, LA2, etc. correspondingto each set of trouble contacts TCI, TCZ, etc. The normally deenergizedwinding 22 of each lamp acknowledgement relay LAI. LA2, etc. is adaptedto be energized over conductor 23. which extends from theacknowledgement bus 2l through break contacts I, 2 of the associatedlamp relay LI, L2, etc., and thence to winding 22 of the lampacknowledgement relay. Connected in shunting relation around theacknowledgement switch around the break contacts I and 2 of each lamprelay LI, L2, etc. is a jumper 25 which extends directly to the supplyline conductor I4. Interposed in this jumper connection 25 are the makecontacts 8 and Il ci the associated lamp ackncwledgement relay LAI, LA2,etc. Also interposed in this jumper 25 are the break contacts I, 4 (orcontacts I, 5 for relay LA2, or contacts I, 5 for relay LA3) of thereset auxiliary relay RAI (shown in Figure 6).

Referring now to this reset auxiliary relay RAI (shown in Figure 6), thewinding 21 thereof is connected across the supply line through conductor2B, interposed in which are the make contacts 5 and 6 of reset relayREI. The windings 23 of the other reset auxiliary relays RA2, RA3, etc.(shown in Fig. 7) are connected in parallel across winding 21 so thatthe windings 21 and 29 of all reset auxiliary relays RAI, RAZ, RA3, etc.are energized simultaneously.

Referring now to the reset relays REI and Rm (shown in Fig. 5), theWinding 3| of reset relay REI is adapted to be connected across thesupply line I4, I5 through conductor 32. A

manually operable reset switch 33 serves to conneet conductor 32 tosupply conductor I4. Conductor 32 is also adapted to be connected tosupply conductor I4 through contacts T54' of a test switch 85 in theperformance oi.' a testing operation. as I shall later describe. TheWinding SII of reset relay RE2 is adapted to be connected across thesupply line i4., I5 through conductor 39, interposed in which are thecontacts I, I2 of reset auxiliary relay RAI. Make contacts 5 and 5 ofboth reset relays REI and RE2. and make contacts 5 and 8 of test relayT88 are all connected in parallel from supply conductor i4 toacknowledgement bus 2i.

Referring now to the audible signalling apparatus, this comprises arelatively loud alarm signal device, such as a horn 4I, and amore quietaudible restore signal, such as a .chime 42, the latter being of eitherthe single stroke or continuous vibrating type. The horn 4I is connectedthrough conductor 43 with a horn energizing bus 44, and the chime 42 isconnected through conductor 45 with a chime energizing bus 46. These twobusses 44 and 46 are adapted to be connected with a main audible signalenergizing bus 41 which is normally connected with supply line I4 20 andment relay LAI.

, end of Figure 1A. This normal through contacts TSI' of the testingswitch 35. For each set of trouble contacts TCI, TC2, etc. there isprovided a separate conductor 5I extending down from main bus 41 to thehorn energizing bus 44, and also a separate conductor 52 extending downfrom bus 41 to the chime sounding bus 46. Interposed in the firstconductor 5I (correlated to trouble contacts TCI) are the break contactsII, Ill of lamp relay LI, and the break contacts I, 2 of lampacknowledgement relay LAI. Interposed in the iirst conductor 52(correlated to trouble contacts TCI) are the make contacts II, I2 oflamp relay LI and the make contacts l5, 6 of lamp acknowledge- Asclearly illustrated in Figure l, this relation of conductors 5I and 52,together with lamp relay contacts and lamp acknowledgement relaycontacts is multipled between main bus 41 and the horn energizing bus 44and chime energizing bus 46 for each additional pair of troublecontacts, such as TG2, TG3, etc., as illustrated in dotted lines.

Referring now to the visual signalling apparatus. this comprisesdesignation lamps and a pilot lamp arranged to respond to the operationof each set of trouble contacts TCI, TC2, etc., viz: a pair ofdesignation lamps I and a pilot lamp I are arranged to respondfunctionally to trouble contacts TCI; a pair of designation lamps 2 anda pilot lamp 2 are arranged to respond functionally to trouble contactsTG2, etc.; this same arrangement being repeated for each additional setof trouble contacts. Each pair of designation lamps is interposed in aconductor 6I connected across the supply circuit, and each pilot lamp isinterposed in a conductor 52 also connected across the supply circuit.Conductor 6I is controlled by break contacts Il, I0 ci. lampacknowledgement relay LAI, and by the break contacts 3, 4 of lamp relayLI, both sets of contacts being interposed in series in this conductor.An adjustable resistor RI is connected in shunt across contacts II, I5of lamp acknowledgement relay LAI, so that when these contacts open thedesignation lamps continue to burn, but with a dimmed brilliance, whichcan be adjusted to any desired value by adjusting the resistor RI. Theconductor 62 of the pilot lamp is controlled by make contacts II. I2 oflamp acknowledgement relay LAI, and by the make contacts 5, B of lamprelay LI, both interposed in series in conductor 62. It will be seenthat this same combination of designation lamps and pilot lamps ismultipled across the supply line for each additional set of troublecontacts T02, TCS, etc., as illustrated in dotted lines.

Referring now to the test switch 35, this is preferably in the form-ofa. manually actuated. spring return switch comprising a wiping contactarm TSA adapted to be rotated through the medium of a knob or the like.A return spring 66 normally tends to hold the contact arm TSA in anormal position in engagement with stationary contact TSI', as bestshown at the right hand position normally supplies potential from supplyconductor I4 to the main audible signal energizing bus 41. as shown inFigure l.

In the performance of a testing operation, the testing switch is rotatedmanually to make ensagement with the series of stationary testingcontacts TS2", T83' and T84. "Lamp contact TS2 connects throughconductor 68 with the winding 58 of test relay TS2., and pilot" contactTSS connects through conductor 1I with the Winding of test relay TS3(Fig. 5). The other contact TS4 is adapted to establish a shunt acrossthe contacts of reset switch 33, as previ ously described. A jumper 'I4extends from conductor 68 to supply conductor I4, and interposed in thisjumper are the make contacts 9. Ill of test relay TS2 and the breakcontacts 3. 4 of test relay TS3. Interposed in conductor 1I are the makecontacts 8, Ill of test relay TSS, and connected in parallel across saidlatter contacts are the make contacts 5. 6 of test relay TS2.

The basic operation and the circuit operation of the entire system aretabulated in Figure 8, and attention is directed thereto for a detailedunderstanding of the operation. This also applies to the testingoperations which can be performed by the manually actuated testingswitch 35, the operations oi' which are also listed in Figure 8.

I also contemplate a further embodiment of my invention having a moresimpliied testing arrangement. In this embodiment the multiple pointtesting switch 35 and the two test relays TS2 and TSS are completelyeliminated, and instead of the bus IB being connected to supplyconductor I4 through contacts 3, 4 of test relay TS2, it is connectedthereto through a normally closed push-button switch which cuts oif thebus I6 from supply conductor I4 when the push button is depressed in theperformance of a testing operation. In such embodiment, the main audiblesignalling bus 41 remains permanently connected to supply line I4instead of being connected through point TSI' of the multiple pointtesting switch. Also, the testing connection from supply conductor I4 toacknowledgement bus 2| through contacts 5, 6 of test relay TS3 iseliminated, and the testing connection from supply conductor I4 toconductor 32 through switch point contact TS4 intshunt of reset switch33 is eliminated. Otherwise the circuit remains the same. In suchembodiment of my invention, the manual operation of the push-button testswitch produces the same operations as the automatic opening of thetrouble contacts. The acknowledgement switch and the reset switch 33 areoperated in the same sequence as for an actual trouble contact openingand reclosing.

It will be understood that the signalling apparatus, relays etc. can bemounted behind an instrument panel or housed in any suitable form ofcabinet, provided with sight windows for the designation lampscontaining lettered or numbered designations of the location of thetrouble or type of trouble, and sight glasses for the pilot lamps etc.

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferredembodiments of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood thatsuch are merely exemplary and that numerous modications andrearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence01' the invention.

I claim:

l. In an annunciator system of the class described, the combination o!supervisory contacts having a normal position and adapted to be placedin an abnormal position in response to a trouble condition or the like,audible signalling apparatus comprising a trouble Sounding signal deviceand a restore sounding signal device, visual indicating apparatuscomprising a designation lamp and a pilot lamp, an arrangement of relayand circuit means responsive to said supervisory contacts for causingsaid trouble signal device to give an audible indication and saiddesignation lamp to give a visual indication when said supervisorycontacts move into said abnormal position in response to a troublecondition or the like, an acknowledgement switch, an arrangement ofrelay and circuit means responsive to said acknowledgement switch forcontrolling said trouble signal device and said designation lamp, anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to the restoration ofsaid supervisory contacts to normal position for operating said restoresounding signal device and said pilot lamp, a reset switch, and anarrangement ci relay and circuit means responsive to said reset switchfor controlling said restore sounding signal and said pilot lamp.

2. In an annunciator system of the class described, the combination ofsupervisory contacts having a normal position and adapted to be placedin an abnormal position in response to a trouble condition or the like,audible signalling apparatus comprising a trouble sounding signal deviceand a restore sounding signal device, visual indicating apparatuscomprising a. designation lamp and a pilot lamp, an arrange' ment ofrelay and circuit means responsive to said supervisory contacts forcausing said trouble signal device to give an audible indication andsaid designation lamp to give a visual indication when said supervisorycontacts move into said normal position in response to a troublecondition or the like, a manually actuated acknowledgment switch, anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to said acknowledgmentswitch for silencing said trouble signal device and for dimming saiddesignation lamp, and an arrangement of relay and circuit meansresponsive to the restoration of said supervisory contacts to normalposition for causing said restore signal device to sound and said pilotlamp to light.

3. In an annunciator system of the class described, the combination ofsupervisory contacts having a normal closed position and adapted to beplaced in an abnormal open position in response to a. trouble conditionor the like. audible signalling apparatus comprising means operative toemit two distinctive sounds, one for designating a trouble condition andthe other for designating a restored condition, visual signallingapparatus, an arrangement of normally energized relay and circuit meansresponsive to said supervisory contacts for causing the operation ofsaid audible signalling apparatus to emit said trouble designating soundand also for causing the operation of said visual signalling apparatuswhen said supervisory contacts move into said abnormal open position inresponse to a trouble condition or the like, an acknowledgment switch.an arrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to saidacknowledgment switch for modifying the operation of said audi blesignalling apparatus and of said visual signalling apparatus, and anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to the restoration o1said supervisory contacts to their normal position for further modifyingthe operation oi said audible signalling apparatus and of said visualsignalling apparatus, a. reset switch. and an arrangement of relay andcircuit means responsive to said reset switch for discontinuing theoperation of said audible signalling apparatus and of said visualsignalling apparatus.

4. In an annunciator system of the class described, the combination ofsupervisory contacts nalling apparatus. a reset switch, and anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to said reset switchfor discontinuing the operation of said visual signal apparatus.

11. In an annunciator system, of the class described, the combination ofsupervisory contacts having a normal position and adapted to be placedin an abnormal position in response to a trouble condition or the like,audible signalling apparatus comprising a trouble sounding signallingdevice and a restore sounding device, visual indicating apparatuscomprising a designation lamp and a pilot lamp, an arrangement of relayand circuit means responsive to said supervisory contacts for causingsaid trouble signalling device to give an audible indication and forcausing said designation lamp to give a visual indication when saidsupervisory contacts move into said abnormal position in response to atrouble condition or the like, an acknowledgement switch, an arrangementof relay and circuit means responsive to said acknowledgement switch forcontrolling said trouble signalling device and said designation lamp, anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to the restoration ofsaid supervisory contacts to normal position for operating said restoresounding signalling device and said pilot lamp, a reset switch, anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to said reset switchfor controlling said restore sounding signal and said pilot lamp, andtesting apparatus comprising a manual actuated multiple position testingswitch together with relay and circuit means associated therewithwhereby one position of said testing switch is operative to test saidindication lamps, another position of said testing switch is operativeto test said pilot lamps, and another position of said testing switch isoperative to test the reset function performed by the operation of saidreset switch.

12. In an annunciator system, the combination of supervisory contactshaving a normal position and adapted to be placed in an abnormalposition in response to a trouble condition or the like,

visual indication apparatus comprising a designation lamp and a pilotlamp, an arrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to saidsupervisory contacts for causing said designation lamp to give a visualindication when said supervisory contacts move into said abnormalposition in u response to a trouble condition or the like, anacknowledgement switch, an arrangement of relay and circuit meansresponsive to said acknowledgement switch for controlling saiddesignation lamp, an arrangement of relay and circuit means responsiveto the restoration ci said supervisory contacts to normal position foroperating said pilot lamp, a reset switch, an arrangement of relay andcircuit means responsive to said reset switch for controlling said pilotlamp, and testing apparatus comprising a manually actuated multipleposition testing switch together with relay and circuit means associatedthere- 10 with, whereby one position of said switch is operative to testsaid designation lamp and another position of said switch is operativeto test said pilot lamp.

13. In an annunciator system, the combination of supervisory contactshaving a normal position and adapted to be placed in an abnormalposition in response to a trouble condition or the like, signallingapparatus comprising a primary signalling device and a secondarysignalling device, an arrangement and relay and circuit means responsiveto said supervisory contacts for causing said primary signalling deviceto give an alarm indication when said supervisory contacts move intosaid abnormal position in response to a trouble condition or the like,an acknowledgement switch, an arrangement of relay and circuit meansresponsive to said acknowledgement switch for controlling said primarysignal device, an arrangement of relay and circuit means responsive tothe restoration of said supervisory contacts to normal position foroperating said secondary signalling device, a reset switch, and anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to said reset switchfor controlling said secondary signalling device.

14. In an annunciator system, the combination of supervisory contactshaving a normal position and adapted to be placed in an abnormalposition in response to a trouble condition or the like, signailingapparatus comprising a primary signalling device and a secondarysignalling device, an arrangement of relay and circuit means responsiveto said supervisory contacts for causing said primary signalling deviceto give an alarm indication when said supervisory contacts move intosaid abnormal position in response to a trouble condition or the like,an acknowledgement switch, an arrangement of relay and circuit meansresponsive to said acknowledgement switch for controlling said primarysignal device, an arrangement of relay and circuit means responsive tothe restoration of said supervisory contacts to normal position foroperating said secondary signailing device, a reset switch. anarrangement of relay and circuit means responsive to said reset switchfor controlling said secondary signalling device, and testing apparatusoperative to test said primary signalling device and said secondarysignalling device.

HAROLD E. SEATON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi' record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,395,826 Hopkins Nov. .1, 19211,675,989 Oneal July 3, 1928 2,215,187 Muehter Sept. 17, 1940 2,420,481Jackson et al May 13, 1947

